Culture, Innovation and the Economy

This is a handbook for the cultural entrepreneur offering some of the best examples on, practice, franchises, research, innovation and business opportunities in the cultural sector.

The key theme is the contribution and possibilities of the cultural economy as a business, with a strong supporting subtext on innovative practice.

The book illustrates the theme by providing multiple practice based and empirical examples from an international panel of experts. Each contribution provides an accessible and easily accessed bank of knowledge on which existing practice can be grown and new projects undertaken. It provides an eclectic mix of possibilities that reinforce and underscore the full innovative and complex potential of the cultural economy and can be read in part or in whole, as an abstract for a cultural entrepreneur, as a reference for an academic or in the context of planning and development for resilient and sustainable economic growth.

The authors introduce the topic by providing a short review of the global and regional economic benefits of the culture economy, they offer an evidence based analysis of the culture industries and then conclude by outlining the top ten cultural opportunities for business; a list of the most promising business opportunities in the cultural economy.

While there are similar books that loosely touch on the same topic, none combine Culture, Innovation and the Economy, or try to transcend the space between the observational and practical or working business examples.

James E. Doyle is a cultural manager, a practising artist, and currently acts as a freelance adviser on Arts & Cultural Policy and Strategic Development. Most recently he was employed as one of the Arts Officer's for Dublin City Council, with a remit for developing strategic opportunities and partnerships.

Biljana Mickov is a cultural researcher, editor and consultant. She is responsible for the Creative Industries programme at the Institute of Culture Vojvodina, Serbia. Her work is primarily dedicated to researching and developing cultural policies and contemporary arts management in cities.